The Common Ills: 2008-12-21

Saturday, December 27, 2008

At least 24 dead in Baghdad bombing

The violence

In this morning's New York Times, Timothy Williams and Mohamed Hussein offer "Iraq Jailbreak Leaves 13 Dead as Man Suspected of Being Militant Leader Escapes." Probably the detail to note is: Emad Ahmed Ferhan. That's a detail that should have been in yesterday's reports but Iraqi authorities forgot to pass it on. Someone escapes from prison and you're searching door to door, you release the name of the escapee and a photo. You include what the person was imprisoned for. All the Iraqi authorities offered was"Emad Ahmed Ferhan." And that's one name to the three who broke out. It's amazing the press wasn't able to get a hold of photos since the article tells you that photos of the escapees were displayed by the police as they went door to door.

Reality is the three may or may not be criminals but they were certainly victims being housed 30 to a prison cell.

Kimi Yoshino offers "Iraq prison riot leaves 13 dead" (Los Angeles Times) and I'm not seeing anything that wasn't covered yesterday. Not a slap to Yoshino, it's just that other than the name of one of the prisoners being released, there's nothing beyond what was known when the story broke yesterday.

The press should be demanding the names of all three, photos, when they were arrested, when they were placed in the prison, have any ever had any sort of judicial proceedings, etc.

Meanwhile in the US, Tom Quigley's "Iraq War veteran involved in two-hour standoff with police at his Mansfield Township apartment, police say" (Penn's The Express Times) reports, "A mentally disturbed Iraq War veteran who dialed 911 this morning and falsely reported he shot two people kept police at bay during an ensuing two-hour standoff in Mansfield Township, police said. "

And that might need to be filed with CBS Evening News' "Military Struggles With Response To PTSD" (link has text and video):

The Pentagon says 1 in 5 service members who come home from Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress. Some find their experiences too much to bear. There were 115 military suicides last year, and 93 through just August of this year. The biggest obstacle to getting those numbers down may be the military culture itself, reports CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier.

Or maybe it needs to be filed with Paloma Esquivel, Christine Hanley and Christopher Goffard's "Veterans of Iraq unit linked to violent crimes: Army plays down connection, but defense lawyers suggest a pattern" (Los Angeles Times via Houston Chronicle):

They nicknamed themselves "the Lethal Warriors," and during two tours in Iraq, the soldiers of the Army's 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry regiment confronted some of the war's cruelest fighting, hunting insurgents through Baghdad and Tikrit amid roadside bombs, mortar fire and close-quarters firefights.
By June 2007, the unit was losing a soldier a day. Over two tours, 33 of them had died.
On Nov. 30, 2007, Kenneth Eastridge, a survivor of the fighting, found himself at a rough bar not far from the unit's Fort Carson base.
Eastridge, a high school dropout from Louisville, Ky., had joined the Army to escape dead-end prospects of civilian life, only to run repeatedly afoul of Army rules and face a court-martial.
Two days after his discharge, Eastridge was with two other vets from his unit, Louis Bressler and Bruce Bastien.
Police say the trio plotted a robbery in the company of an Army private. Later that night, police say, Bressler -- worried that the private would divulge their plot -- shot him to death.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

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Friday, December 26, 2008

Iraq snapshot

Friday, December 26, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, a prison break takes place in Ramadi, Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas in select areas within the country and as exiles, Barack prepares to trash the Constitution, and more.

In the day's big news, Jamal Naji and Leila Fadel (McClatchy Newspapers) report, "Prisoners in a western Iraqi jail staged an armed revolt Friday morning that lasted for at least two hours. Ten police men and six prisoners were killed in the battle that ensued. Three Al Qaida in Iraq prisoners escaped and are on the loose, Iraqi police said." Some reports lower the death toll to thirteen (from sixteen). The BBC dubs it a "shoot-out" and then adds "Ramadi police have imposed a curfew across the city following the incident. Police are searching through houses in the city for the escaped militants." Kimi Yoshino (Los Angles Times) reports that there were four escapees but one "turned himself in without incident". Al Jazeera notes "police were going from house to house with photos of the fugitives on Friday morning." Ernesto Londono (Washington Post) explains, "The jailbreak comes as U.S. officials are shutting down their detention facilities across the country and as U.S. troops are sharply reducing their presence in Anbar province, a predominantly Sunni territory that was the cradle of the insurgency. Ramadi is the capital of Anbar." NPR (text only currently) notes that the US handed over responsibilites for the prison, al-Forsan, to the Iraqis last September and that today's events "could call into question the timetable for relinquishing U.S. control over the country." That is also when security tasks/control of Al Anbar were handed over to the Iraqis (from the US).

In diplomacy news, Iraq's Sunni vice president Tareq al-Hashemi visited Turkey last Saturday. al-Hashemi just concluded a visit to Syria. UAE Daily News notes that "he met with Preisdent Bashar al-Assad, Vice President Faruq al-Shara, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majid" and emphasized "the security agreement between Iraq and the US in addition to the conditions of Iraqi refugees in Syria." Xinhau also reported that al-Hashemi conveyed his thanks for the hosting of Iraqi refugees and added, "The Syrian government says that there are about 1.2 million Iraqi refugees in Syria now, down from a number of 1.5 million two years ago." Meanwhile al-Maliki just finished a visit to Turkey. It did not go well. He breezed in dismissing concern over the PKK and mouthing remarks about bi-lateral trade and how there were so many issues that Iraq and Turkey had to address, important issues. As Carole King sings in "Chalice Borealis" (which she wrote with Rick Sorensen), "Didn't turn out quite the way you wanted, how were you to know?" So when the news shortly after he arrives is that the PKK in northern Iraq has just killed three Turkish soldiers with seventeen more injured, it demanded a statement and he had nothing to offer but mealy mouth words. Repeating, he came into Turkey dismissing the need to address the PKK (despite Iraq's president and vice president both visiting Turkey in the last seven days to address the issue of the PKK and other issues)and, when the news broke of the dead and wounded soldiers, he fell back on soundbytes he's been using since 2007. It was not a diplomatic success. But Turkey was only one stop on his tour of diplomacy. Or was supposed to be. Dalya Hassan and Aziz Alwan (Washington Post) inform that the planned trip to Iran has been cancelled and no one is sure why that is: "The cancellation prompted speculation among Iraqi officials that Maliki changed his plans for a possible visit to Baghdad by President-elect Barack Obama, or because of the tumult in parliament that followed the resignation this week of its abrasive and sometimes strident speaker. Others suggested that Maliki was simply required to be in Baghdad ahead of the implementation of a new agreement that, starting Jan. 1, regulates the once almost unquestioned authority of the U.S. military here." Hurriyet reports, "Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the central Iraqi government was not a party to the issue of disarmament of the terrorist PKK organization. His remarks came in response to questions if he discussed a concrete plan with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to combat the PKK during their bilateral meeting Wednesday." However, as Iran's Press TV points out, when Talabani visited a few days ago, he stated "that both the government in Baghdad adn the autonomous Kurdish administration were determined to end the presence of the PKK in the north." And China's Xinhua notes today, "Commenting on Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's statement and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's visit to Turkey, [Turkish] Gen. [Metin] Gurak said that 'we hope that Iraqi authorities could contribute to the fight against the PKK." Deciphering: The General references what Talabani said on his recent vist but is just noting al-Maliki's say-nothing visit. Balita-dot-ph observes that Iraqi is considering puchasing "50 train sets from Turkey" and that, "In the upcoming days, Iraqi, Turkish and Syrian transportation ministers would convene either in Istanbul or Baghdad in order to discuss new joint projects".

Meanwhile, possibly because it was Christmas, Iraqi Christians were actually in the news. Larisa Epatko (PBS' NewsHour) did an online "update" (text only) where they report on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (see the December 19th snapshot): "The USCIRF said non-Muslim religions in Iraq, particularly ChaldoAssyrian and other Christian groups, Sabean Mandaen: a small religious sect tied to John the Baptist, and Yazidi: a relgion with influences from Islam and Christianity, are experiencing targeted violence and have had to relocate to other parts of Iraq or other countries." Missy Ryan (Reuters) reported on Iraqi Christians celebrating in Baghdad and quoted Amira Daoud who "was relieved that the number of bombings and attacks has slowed over the past year. Yet she takes a practical approach to her daily life: 'Of course, there's still kidnapping. Everyone says to themselves that this could be their day. So we take precautions." Today Sam Dagher (New York Times) reports on Iraqi Christians in Mosul and notes that those who have returned (a small number) cite the Chaldean's Church's Rev Basman George Fatouhi and three nuns, including Sister Autour Yousif, who had remained behind in Mosul "working against the tide to keep their faith alive. Durign the depths of the crisis in October, they were not only providing moral and spiritual support, but often venturing out at great risk to buy food and provisions for families who were too scared to even go to the market. They have also been determined to maintain church services in some of the most dangerous parts of the city. On numerous occasions the pair have found themselves carrying out the grim task of collecting the bodies of Christians from the morgue because their families were too afraid to do it." Kimi Yoshino and Ali Hameed (Los Angeles Times) quote Issa Zakariya, a Chrisian in Mosul, stating, "Years ago, we were spending Christmas congratulating our friends and relatives in Mosul, but today everything has changed. But despite all that, the flavor of Christmas still exists and the dream of Santa still exists in the hearts of the children. I just hope peace and safety come back to Iraq." Meanwhile Liz Sly (Chicago Tribune) reports on Iraqi Christians who've fled the country for their own safety, "At the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in this working-class Christian suburb east of Beirut, Rev. Joseph Malkoum preaches to an Iraqi congregation that expands every Sunday, swelled by the ranks of Christians fleeing Iraq. In recent weeks, he has noticed an increase in the number of new faces crowded into the pews as a surge in violence directed against Christians in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul fuels a fresh wave of refugees."

Mosul is covered in Alissa J. Rubin's analysis (New York Times) of current conditions in Iraq where she notes the rumors that some of the violence aimed at Iraqi Christians is coming from Kurds with the hope of pushing them to support the Kurdish Regional Government extending beyond its current boundaries. Rubin explores how al-Maliki is seen to be consolidating his power and doing so at the expense of others. She explores his "controversial" program of putting tribal councils on his personal payroll. For those paying attention in April, this is what Joe Biden was publicly warning against. Rubin notes that, despite the amnesty for Sunnis, the bulk remain imprisoned, she offers that along with talks of coups in Iraq, there is talk of holding a no-confidence vote to replace him: "But unless there is a consensus about a successor, the government could drift for months as it did after the elections in 2005, when there were several months of discussions about who would become prime minister, and in 2006, when the previous prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, was removed." She explains all of this drama and intrigue takes place as provincial elections approach. They are currently scheduled for January 31st. Mohammed al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reported earlier on the provincial elections and noted that they would "give natioanl parties a local toehold to advance their agendas. That's why posters of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki blanket Baghdad's streets even though he isn't running for office next month. The banners are meant to build support for his Dawa Party."

In other Iraqi political news, UPI reports, "Communist parties in Iraq are resuming their campaign after several years by embracing youthful energy in the run-up to provincial elections, Sot al-Iraq said Friday. The Communist platform of unity and equality among the various social classes is impossible under the crisis caused by the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Their solidariy, however, differs from other parties as they do not differentiate or support any one plaform over the other. The Communist Party emerged out of the southern Wasit province to embrace a dream of equality, hoping the bloodshed of its martyrs would usher in a new hope for tomorrow, the news service said."

Along with the prison break, Iraq saw other violence today . . .

Bombings?

Sahar Issa (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Bahgdad home bombing that claimed 1 life and left two people wounded (all family members), a Baghdad roadside bombing that left six people wounded (four are police officers), a Baquba roadside bombing that claimed the lives of 3 Iraqi soldiers, with two more and two military officers wounded (total of four people wounded) and, dropping back to Wednesday, a Falluja roadside bombing that claimed the lives of 3 "children and their mother." Reuters states the Baghdad home bombing death was the father and that the two injured were the man's sons.

Shootings?

CNN reports 1 truck driver was shot dead in Falluja by the Iraqi police and his "truck was rigged with explosives."

Yesterday, the US military announced: "A U.S. Soldier died of wounds as a result of an indirect fire attack near Mosul, Iraq Dec. 25." ICCC's count for the total number of US service members killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war stands at 4217. Eight deaths since last Friday (the deaths began on Saturday) and little interest on the part of the media.

Turning to the US political scene, earlier this month ETAN called out talk of Dennis Blair being appointed Director of National Intelligence by president-elect Barack Obama:

"President-elect Barack Obama's rumored selection of Admiral Dennis C. Blair for Director of National Intelligence is unacceptable," the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) said today.

"During his years as Pacific Commander, Blair actively worked to reinstate military assistance and deepen ties to Indonesia's military despite its ongoing human rights violations in East Timor and consistent record of impunity," said John M. Miller, National Coordinator of ETAN.

"His actions demonstrate the failure of engagement to temper the Indonesian military's behavior and his actions helped to reinforce impunity for senior Indonesian officials that continues to this day," added Miller. He undermined the Clinton administration's belated efforts to support human rights and self-determination in the Indonesian-occupied territory and opposed congressional efforts to limit assistance."

"It is unfathomable that Obama would consider appointing someone to such a prominent position who has shown so little concern for human rights in the past. Can we expect someone who has sought to undermine efforts to link human rights to military assistance to be a champion of reform? We don't think this is the kind of change people are expecting," said Miller.

In April 1999, just days after Indonesian security forces and their militias carried out a brutal churchyard massacre, Adm. Blair delivered a message of 'business-as-usual' To Indonesian General Wiranto, then Commander of the Indonesian armed forces. Following East Timor's pro-independence vote, Blair sought the quickest possible restoration of military assistance, despite Indonesia's highly destructive exit.

Barack has long cozied up to those responsible for and encouraging of that slaughter in East Timor. ETAN's full release can be read here or here. Tom Burghardt (Dissident Voice) sounds the alarms on Blair as well and the section that may most stand out is this:

Obama's choice for ODNI is well-placed to continue the mercenary "tradition" of intelligence outsourcing and what one can only describe as the corporatization of government. According to the Journal, some of the "tougher intelligence issues" the incoming Obama administration seeks to resolve "is weighing whether to propose the creation of a domestic intelligence agency," modeled after Britain's MI5.

Marjorie Cohn, Naomi Wolf and all the others who embarrassed themselves by public slobbering over Barack Obama and insisting he would 'save' the Constitution, when do you plan to get your lazy asses and call the above out? Now the Gitmo attorneys made fools out of themselves as well but they've already been publicly punked and no longer rush to assure how dreamy Barack is. But let's see some of these 'brave voices' for the Constitution step up to the damn plate. They could be counted on to DELUDE themselves and schill for Barack. Can they now try standing up for the Constitution of the United States of America or is that too damn hard? Bill Clinton could not -- at any time during his eight years in office -- have gotten away witha d omestic intelligence agency (currently against the law) but Barack might be able to because so many 'leaders' are chicken s**t when it comes to calling him out. So come on Marj, you could distort reality to attack Hillary and advance Barack. Let's see you address the Constitution, big girl, let's see you protect it. Naomi, you made an utter fool out of yourself. Your racism in Fire With Fire was nothing compared to what you did in 2008. So if you're not zonked out on drugs or 'love,' how about you step up to the damn plate and call out this attack on the Consitution?

And those are only two of the many public fools -- idiots who damn well should have known better but felt running a fan club was more important than protecting the Constitution and our civil liberties.

iraq
mcclatchy newspapers
jamal naji
leila fadel

mohammed al dulaimy
the new york times
sam dagher
kimi yoshino
ali hameed
the chicago tribune
liz sly

alissa j. rubin
the washington post
dalya hassan
aziz alwan

ernesto londono
hurriyet

etan
dennis blair

Cher sings US 2009 theme song

"When The Money's Gone," by Cher. Off Living Proof CD.

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when the money's gone

Prison revolt and Mosul

Prisoners in a western Iraqi jail staged an armed revolt Friday morning that lasted for at least two hours. Ten police men and six prisoners were killed in the battle that ensued. Three Al Qaida in Iraq prisoners escaped and are on the loose, Iraqi police said.

The above is from Jamal Naji and Leila Fadel's "Ramadi prison revolt leaves 16 dead" (McClatchy Newspapers) and that's the big news breaking in Iraq this morning. Reuters, AP and other outlets are filing on it.

Sam Dahger offers "In Mosul, Iraqi Christians Brave the Violence to Celebrate Christmas" (New York Times) which examines conditions in Mosul -- an under-reported area considering its importance which will only increase in 2009. There's really no 'best' section of Dagher's report (which is one of his better offerings) so, if you have the time and use links, read in full. But we'll highlight these sections:

At St. Paul's, Mikhail Ibrahim said the only reason he returned to Mosul after fleeing for a few weeks with his family was because of his faith in the Rev. Basman George Fatouhi, the Chaldean Church's de facto leader in Mosul.
"He was the only one who stayed and took care of the community," Mr. Ibrahim said. "He told us to come back and we did."
Father Fatouhi, a charismatic 27-year-old priest, was thrust into the effective leadership of the Chaldean Church in Mosul after the kidnapping and death this year of its leader, Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. Archbishop Rahho's closest aide, another senior figure in the church, was killed in 2007.
Father Fatouhi had negotiated with the archbishop's kidnappers, who abducted the archbishop after a church service and killed three of his companions.
Their demands went from $300,000 to $20,000, but after the lesser sum was paid the negotiators were told that the archbishop had died in captivity because he did not have his diabetes medication.
Father Fatouhi and another church member dug his body out of a shallow grave and took it to the morgue.
[. . .]
Amid the violence, the few remaining church leaders like Father Fatouhi and Sister Autour Yousif, who also belongs to the Chaldean Church, are working against the tide to keep their faith alive.
During the depths of the crisis in October, they were not only providing moral and spiritual support, but often venturing out at great risk to buy food and provisions for families who were too scared to even go to the market. They have also been determined to maintain church services in some of the most dangerous parts of the city.
On numerous occasions the pair have found themselves carrying out the grim task of collecting the bodies of Christians from the morgue because their families were too afraid to do it.
Sister Yousif is among three nuns at a convent next to the Miskinta church who have refused to leave Mosul. They care for 27 orphan girls and reach out to Muslims and Christians alike.
"We are like the rest of the people," she said. "We will remain until they all leave. The poor need us."

Again, it's one of Dagher's better reports and stands with the reporting he did from Iraq for the Christian Science Monitor -- the work that originally caught the Times' attention. Also on Mosul, we'll note this from Kimi Yoshino and Ali Hameed's "Greatest gift for Iraqi Christians -- returning home" (Los Angeles Times):

In the northern city of Mosul, Christians celebrated quietly, fearing violence. More than 900 Christian families fled the city as recently as October after attacks by Sunni Arab militants.
Issa Zakariya, 55, said he missed the days when Christians in Mosul could celebrate in peace.
"Years ago, we were spending Christmas congratulating our friends and relatives in Mosul, but today everything has changed," Zakariya said. "But despite all that, the flavor of Christmas still exists and the dream of Santa still exists in the hearts of the children. I just hope peace and safety come back to Iraq."

And despite the rush to assert large returnees to Mosul, that is not the case. The United Nations' tracking disproves it. A small percentage (approximately 1/3) did return in November but the bulk have not. Some are internal refugees living elsewhere in Iraq and some are external refugees who left the country. Liz Sly's "Christian refugees from Iraq pack pews in Lebanon" (Chicago Tribune) reports on some of Iraq's external refugees:

In Iraq, the priests routinely celebrate mass in nearly empty churches—if they dare open their church doors at all.
At the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in this working-class Christian suburb east of Beirut, Rev. Joseph Malkoum preaches to an Iraqi congregation that expands every Sunday, swelled by the ranks of Christians fleeing Iraq.
In recent weeks, he has noticed an increase in the number of new faces crowded into the pews as a surge in violence directed against Christians in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul fuels a fresh wave of refugees.
"There was a period when we felt the numbers were going down, but after the recent troubles in Mosul the movement is picking up again," said Malkoum, who holds a special mass every Sunday for Iraqi Chaldeans, the denomination to which the majority of Iraqi Christians belongs.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

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the new york times
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iraq
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ali hameed
the chicago tribune
liz sly

Iraq realities

With provincial elections scheduled for the end of January, Iraq appears to be plagued by political troubles that seem closer to Shakespearean drama than to nascent democracy.
There is talk of a coup to oust the prime minister. The speaker of the Parliament has abruptly resigned, making angry accusations on his way out the door. And there have been sweeping arrests of people believed to be conspiring against the government, both in Baghdad and Diyala Province.

The above is from Alissa J. Rubin's "Political Power Plays Unsettle Iraq" (New York Times) which runs on the front page of the paper this morning. Rubin explores the conflict between those wanting centralized control and those wanting provinces to have more control. She notes that US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and former top commander in Iraq General David Petreaus are fond of using the term "fragile" to describe Iraq. No, that's not the equivalent of a 90% democracy. Rubin explores how al-Maliki is seen to be consolidating his power and doing so at the expense of others. She explores his "controversial" program of putting tribal councils on his personal payroll. For those paying attention in April, this is what Joe Biden was publicly warning against.

Rubin notes that despite the amnesty for Sunnis, the bulk remain imprisoned, she notes that along with talks of coups in Iraq, there is talk of holding a no-confidence vote to replace him:

But unless there is a consensus about a successor, the government could drift for months as it did after the elections in 2005, when there were several months of discussions about who would become prime minister, and in 2006, when the previous prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, was removed. It's billed as a "NEWS ANALYSIS" and is probably the strongest thing on Iraq that's made the front page all year.

Meanwhile al-Maliki just finished a visit to Turkey. It did not go well. He breezed in dismissing concern over the PKK and mouthing remarks about bi-lateral trade and how there were so many issues that Iraq and Turkey had to address, important issues. As Carole King sings in "Chalice Borealis" (which she wrote with Rick Sorensen), "Didn't turn out quite the way you wanted, how were you to know?" So when the news shortly after he arrives is that the PKK in northern Iraq has just killed three Turkish soldiers with seventeen more injured, it demanded a statement and he had nothing to offer but mealy mouth words. Repeating, he came into Turkey dismissing the need to address the PKK (despite Iraq's president and vice president both visiting Turkey in the last seven days to address the issue of the PKK and other issues)and, when the news broke of the dead and wounded soldiers, he fell back on soundbytes he's been using since 2007. It was not a diplomatic success. But Turkey was only one stop on his tour of diplomacy. Or was supposed to be. Dalya Hassan and Aziz Alwan's "Iraqi Prime Minister Cancels Iran Trip; Attack in Mosul Kills U.S. Soldier" (Washington Post) informs that the planned trip to Iran has been cancelled and no one is sure why that is:

The cancellation prompted speculation among Iraqi officials that Maliki changed his plans for a possible visit to Baghdad by President-elect Barack Obama, or because of the tumult in parliament that followed the resignation this week of its abrasive and sometimes strident speaker. Others suggested that Maliki was simply required to be in Baghdad ahead of the implementation of a new agreement that, starting Jan. 1, regulates the once almost unquestioned authority of the U.S. military here.
"We don't know what is going on and why the prime minister canceled his visit to Iran," said Bassem Sharif, a parliament member with the Shiite-led Fadhila Party. "The whole issue is not why the visit had been canceled. We don't know even why he wanted to go to Iran."

Back to Turkey, Hurriyet explains "Turkish army wants Iraq to contribute to fight against PKK terror:"

Turkey, provided with intelligence by the United States, has stepped up its campaign to crackdown on the PKK both inside Turkey and in northern Iraq, after the terror organization increased its attacks on Turkish soldiers, as well as civilians.
"We also wish that Iraqi authorities contributed to the fight against the separatist terrorist organization," he said when asked about Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's remarks and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's visit to Turkey.
Earlier this week, Maliki met earlier this week Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara to discuss possible measures against the PKK. His visit came as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani spoke of the possibility of the PKK laying down arms and disclosed a staged plan to end terror.

Repeating, Talabani and Tariq al-Hashemi went to Turkey to address the issue (al-Hashemi is the Sunni vice president). They didn't need to be prompted and, most importantly, they didn't arrive in Turkey issuing dismissals to the press about how there were other things to talk about (as al-Maliki did repeatedly stressing bi-lateral trade). Talabani, a Kurd, actually made his strongest statements yet on the matter and was well received. A luke warm reception was what al-Maliki received (his own fault).

We'll note Samah A. Habeeb's "Hunger across Gaza as Bread Runs Out" which went up yesterday at Dissident Voice and is a photo and text essay:

The misery in Gaza pushed me to report on the hunger of my people.
I stopped by Al Shanty Bakery in the middle of Gaza City. It is one of the biggest bakeries in Gaza and provides tens of thousands with bread. Hundreds of people were crowded outside the bakery in a very long, long line waiting for bags of bread, which is running out in Gaza.

Also on Christmas, Judy ____ _____ surfaced. Dear Judy . . . who knew she was still alive? And after the initial buzz passed, even fewer cared. Judy's been selling out to the patriarchy all the way back to the days of the SDS.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

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samah a. habeeb

Thursday, December 25, 2008

I Hate The War

Today, the US military announced: "A U.S. Soldier died of wounds as a result of an indirect fire attack near Mosul, Iraq Dec. 25." December 25th didn't result in an end to the violence.

Bombings?

Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad car bombing that claimed 4 lives and left twenty-five people injured, a Muqdadiyah car bombing that claimed the lives of 3 people (plus the driver of the car) and left another fourteen injured, a Mosul roadside bombing that left five people (four of them Iraqi soldiers) wounded, a Mosul car bombing that left two people wounded and, dropping back to Wednesday, a Mosul car bombing that left seven people wounded.

Shootings?

Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 2 workers for the INA news outlet were shot dead in Baghdad, an assassination attempt on Abdul Ameer Al-Musawi ("one of the Fadhila party candidates" in Basra) that claimed the life of his brother-in-law and a Mosul shooting that wounded a police officer.

The violence never ends. In fact, that should read: "The violence, like the stupidity, never ends." Two Saturdays ago, Saturday Night Live did a sketch bit about New York Governor David Paterson. It was during Amy's last Weekend Update -- which Ava and I noted -- and we planned to explore that skit last Sunday (Ava and I); however, a funny thing happened: A protest of the skit. Outrage over the skit. Which made our thoughts on the skit more appropritate for this Sunday (when we do a year-in-review on TV). But what I can say right now is that the skit was rooted in the perception that Paterson is an idiot.

For those who want to doubt that Paterson is perceived as an idiot, grasp that the governor of Illinois was not railroaded into appointing a Kennedy. Paterson returned (from where, we'll get to) this week and declared he'd decide who was appointed senator and that there was no lock on the position. If true, and if he appoints someone other than Caroline Kennedy, he'll go a long way towards dispelling so many opinions of himself as a weak and foolish.

Why is he perceived as such a weakling? Because he so often makes so many foolish remarks. And he's done many stupid things in public that we ignore here because it has no bearing at this site. However, Dumb Ass Paterson decided he would weigh in on Iraq -- which he just had a for-show visit to. WYNC quotes him declaring -- citing US generals -- that Iraq is 90% a democracy: "And the other 10 percent will not as much be a physical military battle, but a persuasion, getting the Iraqi citizens to see, the great wealth of their country, and the great opportunities they may have at this particular time." His exact words.

What a dumb ass.

It was mere weeks ago that Iraqi Christians were fleeing Mosul. Is Dumb Ass Paterson aware of that? Would he like to campaign in upstate New York for re-election making the claim that despite that well publicized persecution of Iraqi Christians, the country is 90% a democracy? He should actually try that . . . if he wants to be a one-term governor.

Who makes those idiotic claims today? Outside the White House, you have to search high and low for anyone in elected office willing to make such a claim. But there's Pateron -- allegedly a Democrat -- making the claim. Maybe he's back on the drugs he's bragged of using in the past?

You can think whatever you want of the SNL skit and you can be offended by it or not, but pretending that Paterson being seen as a Dumb Ass was not part of the portrayal is being dishonest. Paterson's made a fool out of himself in public. Here, we ignore it not because he's disabled, we ignore it because our focus is Iraq, not New York. When he brings his mountain of dumb ass-ness to the topic of Iraq, we will gladly call him out.

The United Nations is not making the ridiculous claim that Paterson makes. The Red Cross doesn't make the claim. No organization that studies migration makes that ridiculous claim. But Paterson has a fly-over visit to Iraq and wants to declare that it's 90% a democracy. The man's reputation is for being an idiot which is one point the SNL skit was lampooning.

Iraq has still not implemented a de-de-Baathification process. The law they passed was always a joke since there was no oversight written in. By providing no check, the law was meaningless and that's why the de-de-Baathification has never started. We can go down the list of 18 benchmarks the White House established and demonstrate how they've not been achieved. Under no informed judgment would anyone judge Iraq to be 90% democracy.

His little lie, his little self-stroking, is exactly the b.s. that results in SNL skits. A lot of people rushed to defend the idiot and they would have been better served paying attention to the actual skit and attempting to figure out what the points were. And before SNL's accused of anything, real critics might want to try establishing a pattern. Without a pattern, it's a skit in passing, no matter how offensive it may or may not be. There was a pattern to SNL skits throughout 2008. No surprise everyone chose to ignore that.

And in case you're not really getting what an idiot Paterson comes off as, note the opening of Alissa J. Rubin's "Political Power Plays Unsettle Iraq" (New York Times):

With provincial elections scheduled for the end of January, Iraq appears to be plagued by political troubles that seem closer to Shakespearean drama than to nascent democracy.
There is talk of a coup to oust the prime minister. The speaker of the Parliament has abruptly resigned, making angry accusations on his way out the door. And there have been sweeping arrests of people believed to be conspiring against the government, both in Baghdad and Diyala Province.

People can be offended by the SNL skit and for any number of reasons. But for those missing the element of the skit where Paterson's is portrayed as a complete fool or who are wrongly assuming he's portrayed as such due to a disability, he's portrayed as a fool because he makes foolish statements such as today regarding Iraq.

It's over, I'm done writing songs about love
There's a war going on
So I'm holding my gun with a strap and a glove
And I'm writing a song about war
And it goes
Na na na na na na na
I hate the war
Na na na na na na na
I hate the war
Na na na na na na na
I hate the war
Oh oh oh oh
-- "I Hate The War" (written by Greg Goldberg, on The Ballet's Mattachine!)

Last Thursday, ICCC's number of US troops killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war was 4209. Tonight? 4217. Eight deaths since last Thursday but you really wouldn't know it to read the media coverage. Just Foreign Policy lists 1,297,997 as the number of Iraqis killed since the start of the illegal war, the same as the number they gave last week and the week before.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

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6th December 25th for US forces occupying Iraq pa rum pum pum pum

Throughout Iraq, U.S. military personnel were served special Christmas Eve meals and many gathered for church services. Personnel more accustomed to barking orders did their best on traditional hymns and Christmas songs.
At a midnight Mass at the base at Al Asad, Catholic chaplain Paul Shaughnessy reminded the Marines and others that even H.G. Wells, who famously rejected Christianity for Darwinism and atheism, believed Christ was the greatest man in human history.
Wells admired Christ not out of faith but because of his message of brotherhood and peace, Shaughnessy told the 100-plus troops ranging from top officers to privates.
"I know for a lot of you, it's the second or third Christmas here in Iraq," Shaughnessy said during his homily. "It's probably appropriate [that] we're in the Holy Land, or close to it anyhow."

The above is from Tony Perry's "IRAQ: It's Christmas and they're away from home, again" (Babylon & Beyond, Los Angeles Times) and it's the sixth Christmas that US forces have been occupying Iraq. Expect the years to continue to add up. Remember, Barack couldn't pledge that all US troops would be out of Iraq by 2012 if he was elected president. We'll come back to elections but Missy Ryan (Reuters) reports on Iraqi Christians and we'll highlight this section:

Amira Daoud, a housewife dressed in smart suede boots and a fur-trimmed jacket, was relieved that the number of bombings and attacks has slowed over the past year.
Yet she takes a practical approach to her daily life: "Of course, there's still kidnapping. Everyone says to themselves that this could be their day. So we take precautions."
The displacement of Christians was one reason that attendance at the Sacred Heart church is still a fraction of what it was before 2003, Sheikh said.
With mass underway, hymns waft out of the plain concrete building topped by a simple dome.
Inside, parishioners young and old are packed in pews before an altar garlanded by flowers and lit by softly twinkling lights. Shiny angels dangle around a homemade nativity scene.
Despite the festive scenes

If you want numbers, Ryan's got that covered. That highlight was chosen mainly to allow an Iraqi to speak for themselves. There's much more in the report. And now we return to elections . . .

Provincial elections are scheduled in Iraq for January 31st and Mohammed al Dulaimy files "Thousands of candidates may complicate Iraq's provincial elections" (McClatchy Newspapers) which details many candidates in each race and explains:

The provincial council elections will bring new blood into local governing bodies that were filled by political blocs in Iraq's 2005 elections. They'll also give national parties a local toehold to advance their agendas.
That's why posters of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki blanket Baghdad's streets even though he isn't running for office next month. The banners are meant to build support for his Dawa party.

The above may seem so basic that some reporters elect to omit it and focus on other things; however, for people to grasp what al-Maliki's opponents mean when they refer (repeatedly) to his attempted power grabs, the above is basic information that needs to be stressed.

Already today 7 people are dead from car bombs in Baghdad in Muqdadiya. Depending on other news out of Iraq, there will or will not be a snapshot today. "I Hate The War" will be done tonight.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

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al-Mashhadani speaks

Inside today's New York Times, Riyadh Mohammed and Timothy Williams offer "Iraq Parliament's Ex-Speaker Blames Infighting for Ouster" which is about a press conference the now former Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani gave yesterday. Among other things he announced his bloc (National Dialogue Council) would withdraw from the the Iraq Consensus Front and that his resignation was imposed upon him "as part of a plot by several parliamentary blocs to depose Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki's Shiite-led government." The paper speaks with him after the press conference and he tells them, "They are hoping that after my resignation, it will be easier for them to dismiss Maliki."

The reporters then offer an al-Maliki spokesperson saying otherwise. And that's supposed to cover it.

That's supposed to cover it?

The rumors that this would take place -- al-Mashhadani stepping down and a Parliamentary push of some sort to weaken or uninstall al-Maliki -- have been flying around since last week and members of the US State Dept do take it seriously. Since it has been a pressing issue, one worth discussion and pondering to them, you'd think the reporters might be able to find or or two who could speak off the record.

It's really important with regards to this story because otherwise is is just another lunatic claim from al-Mashhadani. Is al-Mashhadani a lunatic? I don't know the man. But the New York Times has spent the last two years attempting to portray him as such. So with nothing but "Mashhadani says . . . but al-Maliki's spokesperson says . . ."? Most readers of the paper who trust it (a decreasing number on both categories) will assume, "Oh, it's that crazy man piping off again! Honey, remember when he was boo-hooing and hiding at his father's? He was about to be kicked out of Parliament so he went into hiding -- a grown man -- at his daddy's!!!! Oh, what a loser." That is the portrait the paper has painted. (And, no, al-Mashhadani was not hiding at his father's in the summer of 2006 while Parliament was on breat. Despite the paper's reporting, he was on a diplomatic mission to Jordan.)

At Babylon & Beyond (LAT's blog), Kimi Yoshino offers:

Mashadani, meanwhile, vowed to return to parliament in nine months, saying that the Iraqi people would choose the "real leader." The temperamental speaker has become known for his outbursts, which include slapping another lawmaker and cursing during parliament sessions.
In his parting news conference Wednesday, Mashadani praised his colleagues for building "a respectable Democratic parliament which surprised the whole world" and at the same time harshly criticized members who own five houses but live at a hotel inside the heavily guarded International Zone.
"How many hospitals and schools could be built in Iraq using this money?" Mashadani said. "There must be a genuine parliament reform."

And Ernesto Lonondo reports the latest on the US Forward Operating Base Callahan in "U.S. Prepares To Hand Over Baghdad Base" (Washington Post):

On Christmas Eve, the few soldiers still there spent the day packing, emptying rooms and carting out boxes. Bulletin boards are bare. The dumbbells and workout equipment have been schlepped away.
Less than a week before the new year, which will usher in a largely undefined era for U.S. troops in Iraq, the military is preparing to hand over Callahan to the Iraqi government. It will be the first major base in Baghdad to be returned. The government has demanded that U.S. combat troops pull out of Iraqi cities by next summer.
The U.S. military plans to shut down by then five of the 13 large bases it operates in the capital, as well as the 15 combat outposts there that are occupied solely by U.S. troops.

Today is Christmas for those celebrating and consider this an 'under the online tree' bonus. Margo Howard and Roger Ebert wrote a hilarious (and true) piece for wowOwow entitled "Margo Howard and Roger Ebert Say to Erica Jong: Take a Vow of Silence, You're no Norman Mailer." It ran October 31st and was one of those things that I would have liked to have included but there was never time. Prepare to laugh and enjoy the craziness of Jong and others. It's probably better to be linked to now to really get the hysteria. Disclosure, I've never liked Erica Jong. Julia Phillips was far too nice to Jong in that book. On a personal level, I've always felt Jong needed to bathe before attending public events -- she can do whatever she wants to on her own time, in her own world, but no one needs to be stuck seated down wind of her in public -- or that was the case in the seventies when she was a momentary and minor media celeb. Erica Jong's one of those 'women libbers' -- as opposed to feminists -- whose heart always belongs to her choice of Daddy. Which is why Anais Nin could have -- and did -- bust her ass to get breaks for the supremely untalanted Jong and Stinky rewards that by . . . writing a book about Henry Miller. It's apparently too much to expect that an allegedly pro-woman female writer actually write about a female artist. So I greatly enjoyed the piece and laughed at all the named nutsos. And here's a helpful hint for the holidays, when you have to go to a doctor for drugs because you're so caught up in the election, you really need to consider Betty Ford. Had it been leaked that any of the candidates were on drugs due to election nerves, they would have been laughed out of the race. The same should be true of their supporters. Again, use the link, enjoy. Oh, and any drive-by that wants to defend Naomi Wolf with, "Well actually the truth is . . ." Naomi Wolf gave up her right to truth when she lied repeatedly during the election. She's publicly humiliated herself and that will only become more clear as that endorsement of Barack (posted everywhere online) haunts her throughout the next four years. It was a nice little fantasy for Naomi, too bad it wasn't based in reality but maybe it got her off one lonely night?

(Yes, we are full of holiday cheer here.)

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Iraq snapshot

Wednesday, December 24, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the US military announces more deaths, Nouri al-Maliki makes a visit, and more.

Today the US military announced: "CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- Three Multi-National Division -- Center Soldiers were killed in a vehicle accident in southern Iraq Dec. 24." The announcement brings the number of US service members killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war to 4216. The total for the month thus far is 9. As of last Friday, the press was gearing for their 'astoundingly low number of deaths in December' pieces to run at the start of January. While 9 is still low (although, cautionary note, the month is not over yet) it is not the 2 that, until December 20th, the count remained at for the entire month.

Tomorrow many people around the world will celebrate Christmas. Joe Sterling (CNN) notes the difficulties facing Iraqi Christians. He quotes Chaldean Federation of America's Joseph Kassab stating, "We are heading for a demise. It's getting to the point where it might be an ethnic cleansing in the future." Sterling also speaks with US House Rep Anna Eshoo who is "of Assyrian and Armenian ancestry" stating, "I think the [Iraqi[ Christians are caught in the middle of a horrible situation" and uses the term "religious cleansing" to describe what's been taking place in Iraq as the number of Christians have "fallen from as many as 1.4 million in 2003 to between 500,000 and 700,000 more recently, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom." The report from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom was noted in the December 19th snapshot and we'll highlight this section of the commission's report:

Nineveh governorate, however, especially in and around Mosul, remains one of the most dangerous and unstable parts of Iraq. Insurgent and extremist activity continues to be a significant problem there, and control of the ethnically and religiously mixed area is disputed between the KRG and the central Iraqi government. While violence overall in Iraq decreased in 2007 and 2008, the Mosul area remains what U.S. and Iraqi officials call the insurgents' and extremists' last urban stronghold, with continuing high levels of violence.D Increased security operations by U.S. and Iraqi forces have led to some decrease in the violence in and around Mosul, but the area remains very dangerous, as evidenced by the October attacks on Christian residents, which killed at least 14 Christians and spurred the flight of 13,000 from Mosul to surrounding areas. According to the September 2008 U.S. Department of Defense report to Congress, "[d]uring the past few years, Mosul has been a strategic stronghold for [al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)], which also needs Mosul for its facilitation of foreign fighters. The current sustained security posture, however, continues to keep AQI off balance and unable to effectively receive support from internal or external sources, though AQI remains lethal and dangerous."D According to the Special Inspector General for Iraqi Reconstruction, from April 1 to July 1, 2008, there were 1,041 reported attacks in Nineveh governorate and from July 1 to September 30, 2008, there were 924 attacks, still a significant number.

This situation has been exacerbated by Arab-Kurdish tensions over control of Mosul and other disputed areas in Nineveh governorate. The dispute stems from Kurdish claims and efforts to annex territories-including parts of the governorates of Kirkuk (Tamim), Nineveh, Salah al-Din, Diyala, and Waset-into the KRG, on the basis of the belief that these areas historically belong to Kurdistan. During the Saddam Hussein era, Kurds and other non-Arabs were expelled from these areas under his policy of "Arabization." Since 2003, Kurdish peshmerga and political parties have moved into these territories, effectively establishing de facto control over many of the contested areas. Key to integrating the contested areas into Kurdistan is Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, which calls for a census and referendum in the territories to determine their control. In this context, military or financial efforts undertaken by either Kurdish officials or Arab officials (whether in Baghdad or local) is seen by the other group as an effort to expand control over the disputed areas, leading to political disputes and deadlock.

Angus McDowall (Telegraph of London) reported earlier this week that some Iraqi Christians from Mosul had fled to the monastery Mar Matti. "Their homes raided, their priests attacked and their relatives murdered, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians have become the latest victims of violence in the city, once the most cosmopolitan in Iraq." Jalal Mansour was quoted stating, "First they came against the Kurds, then against the Yazidis and now they have come for the Christians. My uncle, an old man, was killed just because of his faith." And Andrew Pierce (Telegraph of London) reports, "Rt Rev Graham James, the Bishop of Norwich, accused Britain and America of 'religious illiteracy' about the fallout from the Allied occupation. He said it was 'tragic' that two western powers with a strong Christian tradition had contributed to the eclipse of one of the longest surviving churches in the world. The war in Iraq, he said, had led to the brutal persecution of Christians." Meanwhile AKI speaks with Iraqi MP Younadim Kana who is "the leader of the Iraqi Christians Parliamentary group 'al-Raifidein'" and states, "This year we will be able to go to church on Christmas eve without fear. From a security point of view, we live -- without a doubt -- in an improved security situation compared to previous years, when we witnessed violence and attacks against various sectors of Iraqi society." Provincial elections are currently scheduled for January 31st. UPI reports that Iraq's Christian community is running for seats in the elections in Baghdad, Ninawa and Basra while adding, "Minority Christian groups have a sizable population in the northern regions of Iraq, though elecitons there are postponed because of territorial disputes."

In diplomacy news, Nouri al-Maliki has followed the lead of Iraq's Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, who visited Turkey Saturday and Jalal Talabani, Iraq's president, who visited Turkey yesterday. AP reports that he met with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan today. The meeting did not build on what had come in the two visits prior. Hurriyet notes that "the Iraqi leader makes no mention of how the PKK problem that casts a shadow on bilateral relations could be resolved." It's an issue not only because the PKK -- labeled a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, the US and many others -- continues to have clashes with the Turkish military but also because al-Hashemik and Talabani commented on the issue -- in fact, Talabani's willingness to raise the issue of the PKK was especially well received because he is a Kurd and the PKK has set up in the northern region -- the Kurdish region -- of Iraq. al-Maliki's refusal to address the topic would be alarming to many in Turkey on its own but coming after Talabani appeared open to discussions on the issue and strong in his stance that the northern region of Iraq will not be a safe haven for people to launch attacks on Turkey from, al-Maliki again looks weak and ineffective and does so on the international stage. And on the day when Turkey loses three soliders. Selcuk Gokoluk and Michael Roddy (Reuters) report that three members of the Turkish military were attacked by the PKK on the border between northern Iraq and Turkey. This comes as Waleed Ibrahim, Aseel Kami and Missy Ryan (Reuters) report that the Sunni Accordance Front has lost 1/25 of its members in the Parliament today due to a walk out and Khalaf al-Ilayan (Iraqi National Dialogue Council) declared, "Due to the Accordance Front's failure to achieve its mission and the Islamic Party's unilateral actions, we declare ... the Accordance Front has been dissolved." As new alliances are formed in the near future, it could effect al-Maliki's standing and, in fact, whether or not he remains prime minister.

As the year winds down, Zaineb Naji (Baghdad Life, Wall St. Journal) notes, "Hassan Baghdadi, a reporter for Ishtar satellite channel, said whatever happens to Mr. Zeidi, his actions made him the biggest news story of 2008. 'In Iraq, this story was the most important event of the year, bigger than the world financial crisis or anything else,' he said." John Ross (CounterPunch) observes:

Curiously, while Iraqis of all denominations rallied to the reporter's defense, the Baghdad press pack was unimpressed by al-Zaidi's shoe scoop. Indeed, one Iraqi journalist wrestled the al-Baghdadia correspondent to the floor while Maliki's goons beat on him, breaking his hand and fracturing two of his ribs. The Prime Minister, who apparently fancies himself a press critic, condemned the shoe toss as a "savage act which is unrelated to journalism in any way." Others in the Iraqi journalism community dissed al-Zaidi's performance as "unprofessional."

Even al-Jazeera, the powerful Qatar-based TV titan, was unusually standoffish in its reportage of the celebrated incident, which the powerful Arab network seemed to suggest, reflected poorly on the integrity of "responsible" Arab media. The New York Times, a paragon of corporate journalism, looked down its nose at the great shoe fling with its usual snottiness, disdaining Muntadhar al-Zaidi's credentials as a bona fide journalist and dismissing his activism as folkloric. Reporter Timothy Williams expressed surprise that the war in Iraq was "still unpopular."

And as the year winds down, Nouri al-Maliki's supposed to be overseeing greater Iraqi control of security. However, not unlike the myth of his 'leadership' in the February assault on Basra, al-Maliki's not really done the job. Ned Parker (Los Angeles Times) reports that the US' top commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, explains that the Iraqi committees that are supposed to be overseeing the new security responsibilities are still not in place. Parker also quotes the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Anthony Cordesman who states, "Even if all the committees are in place, Iraqi politics could change any agreement or all of these procedures with no warning. If you have one really drastic incident that catalyzes Iraqi politics, suddenly all of these agreements could lead to a new set of Iraqi demands." Andrea Stone (USA Today) quotes Odierno explaining that, "We're still working our way through" on how US service members will be classified -- which will be called "combat" soldiers and which won't and how they'll determine on and off duty. Stone reminds the treaty masquerading as a Status Of Forces Agreement makes the meanings very improtant. We'll come back to that but on the topic of readyness, Elizabeth Palmer (CBS News) assesses Iraqi readyness and finds: "It's not yet perfect. Some of the Iraqi gunmen look ill-equipped next to their American counterparts." Palmer goes on to find hope in a mission where Iraqis brief the US. Back to the treaty and its 'meaning,' Alan Chvotkin ("who works on behalf of contractors") tells AP's Mike Baker: "The immunity question --- the largest question being talked about -- is not addressed in the ... agreement. The implication is there is none, but there's some hedging on that question. As of right now, there's still some ambiguity. And smart people disagree about it."

Today a hearing was set to start in Iraq and it two of the men who allegedly killed Margaret Hassan in 2004 were to stand trial. As David Brown and Francis Elliott (Times of London) reported, Hassan's family members are accusing "British diplomats of refusing to help them to confront alleged members of the Iraqi gang that kidnapped her." Ali Lutfi Jassar al-Rawi goes on trial tomorrow with another man and Hassan's family have requested that a representative from England's Embassy be at the trial in attendance but they have been informed the Embassy considers it "too dangerous". The Belfast Telegraph carries a statement from Hassan's siblings Deidre, Geraldine, Kathryn and Michael Fitzsimons:

Since Margaret's death we have spent the last four years trying to find her remains. We have sought justice and truth, and have never given up. We want to bring her home and give her a Christian burial with the respect she deserves. This was a promise made to her by her husband (Tahseen Ali Hassan), and together with our family, he has never given up hope of fulfiling that promise.
[. . .]
One of these men was trying to blackmail the British Government and our family in exchange for the return of Margaret's remains.
He demanded money from us, and a safe haven from the British Government in the UK for his family.
[. . .]
We have begged them to send an Embassy official to the trial to represent our sister Margaret. They feel unable to do so because of the security situation. We do not understand this.
[. . .]
Mr Brown said just this week that the British Government has achieved all its goals and the security situation in Iraq is much improved.

To date, only one person has been convicted in connection with the kidnapping and slaughter of Margaret Hassan. In June 2006, Sabrina Tavernise (New York Times) reported on the sentencing of Mustafa Muhammad Salman al-Jibouri who "held Ms. Hassan's purse after she was abducted, though he said he did not know whose it was at first." Meanwhile Jimmy Leach (Independent of London) reviews the top ten articles for his papers this year and notes: "Robert Fisk's piece on The tragic last moments of Margaret Hassan caused more disquiet, not least to Mr Fisk who knew Margaret Hassan. It is a truly harrowing piece, and there was some discussion about whether it should be run, but it is a remarkable insight into a horrifying situation." Click here to read Robert Fisk' column.

In the little reported violence today . . .

Hussein Kadhim (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad roadside bombing that left six police officers wounded while another left two people left wounded.

Meanwhile in the US, president-elect Barack Obama continues to see criticism over his decision to embrace homophobia. Kevin Gosztola (World Can't Wait) offers:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right?

One would never have thought that we were electing Don Corleone to the presidency in November, but more and more individuals from the left seem to be rationalizing Obama with logic that one might find in the storyline of a Mario Puzo story.

Huffington Post had pieces of writing that clearly acquiesced to the decision Obama made.

Lee Stranahan encouraged people to "embrace what you have in common with Rick Warren."

"Like my comrades, I think Warren is dead wrong on same sex marriage. But the reality is that at the end of 2008, a majority of voters in California agreed with him. A majority of Americans agree with Warren about same sex marriage and many more states have made marriage equality unconstitutional than have ratified it…

" … If you are mad about Rick Warren, I'm not attacking you. I understand your anger and I'm not saying it's not justified. But it's all right to let your anger go, too. It doesn't mean surrender; it doesn't mean giving up the struggle for equality.

"It means doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. It means winning, right now - because the fight against hate starts whenever you want it, in your own heart. You can win a battle right now by not hating."

The editorial is loaded from beginning to end with wishful thinking.

So what if a "majority" agree with Pastor Warren's hateful positions toward the LGBT community? What about it being necessary to take a moral position that does not promote hatred of the LGBT community or blame members of the LGBT community for divisions over what marriage is and isn't in this country?

And, why should we be in favor of legitimizing Pastor Warren?

It's one thing for Pastor Warren to invite Obama. He might get more people to join his congregation, which means more book sales and more money for his religious ventures in American capitalism. But, Obama's invitation signals that his election meant Americans wanted people like Pastor Warren to be involved in Obama's presidency.

Allowing Pastor Warren to be up there legitimizes words and judgment like this:

"The issue to me, I'm not opposed to that as much as I'm opposed to redefinition of a 5,000 year definition of marriage. I'm opposed to having a brother and sister being together and calling that marriage. I'm opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage. I'm opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage."

This Rick Santorum-gay-marriage-is-going-to-lead-to-man-on-dog-sex kind of thinking is primitive and ignorant and deserves no place in American society. It deserves no place in American politics.

The national Green Party issues the following statement this week:

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party activists challenged gay voters and advocates of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender rights to protest President-elect Barack Obama's invitation to Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation.

"Unless we make our anger known now, Mr. Obama will continue to betray gay people," said Starlene Rankin, co-chair of the party's Lavender Green Caucus (http://www.lavendergreens.us). "Barack Obama's claim to be a 'fierce advocate for equality' is not credible when he chooses a pastor notorious for his ill-informed and slanderous opinions about homosexuality and vigorous support for Proposition 8."

"The invitation signals that Mr. Obama may repeat the Clinton approach to gay rights. President Clinton, taking gay votes for granted, signed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act into law and authorized the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' military policy. We've had generations of gay rights advocates and other progressives insisting that we need to elect Democrats, then we'll push them towards pro-gay agenda. Instead, gay people have remained second-class citizens in the Democratic Party and told to hush up when they're politically inconvenient. For those tired of bipartisan retreats from promises of human rights and justice, the Green Party remains the party of real change in America," added Ms. Rankin.

The Green Party's national platform asserts that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans deserve all the rights, including marriage and the ability to raise a family, that all other Americans enjoy (http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/socjustice.html#999082). Greens strongly opposed Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex marriage in California.

Mr. Obama has said he opposed the passage of Propositon 8, but he also opposes full same-sex marriage rights, a position inconsistent with support for full and equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Pastor Warren's public statements have revealed profound ignorance and bigotry on sexuality and on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in particular. Promoting passage of Proposition 8 in California, he has said that "in the hierarchy of evil... homosexuality is not the worst sin," an admission that he believes gay people are evil because they are gay.

He has said that allowing same-sex marriage is like allowing "a brother and sister be together and call that marriage" and added that he is "opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that a marriage," comparing same-sex marriage and homosexuality to incestuous relationships and pedophilia, which are crimes. Pastor Warren has also said that homosexuality is "not the natural way.... Certain body parts are meant to fit together," but has not called for the invalidation of heterosexual marriages in which the spouses have engaged in sex outside of vaginal sexual intercourse.

Greens noted that Barack Obama's choice of Rev. Warren for the inaugural prayer coincides with a declaration introduced by 66 countries in the UN calling for universal decriminalization of homosexuality (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7791063.stm). The US is the only major western nation that has refused to sign on, even though a Supreme Court decision has invalidated US laws against sodomy.

"Will the new Obama Administration maintain Bush policy and decline to have the US sign the declaration against criminalization of gay people?" asked Tim Casebolt, secretary of the Lavender Green Caucus.

"Barack Obama has asked Robert Gates to stay on as Secretary of Defense. Mr. Gates is not only likely to continue the Bush Administration's military aggression around the world, but also the targeting of gay members of the armed forces for investigation, harassment, and discharge. The Obama Cabinet appointments have disappointed anyone who sincerely hoped for genuine change in 2009," Mr. Casebolt added.

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